With 54 teams from 30 countries competing, US men secure fifth straight title, women claim third consecutive win
\n Helsinki
\nThe US men\u2019s and women\u2019s teams continued their dominance by winning the world flag football championships in Finland on Friday, but other nations are closing the gap as the sport gains momentum ahead of its Olympic debut in 2028.
\nThe US men secured their fifth consecutive title, while the women claimed their third in a row, defeating Austria and Mexico respectively in the finals of the largest world championship to date, with 54 teams from 30 countries competing.
\nDarrell \u201cHoush\u201d Doucette faced a barrage of online trolls after boldly stating that he and the rest of the USA men\u2019s national flag football team were confident in keeping their roster spots, even if NFL stars aimed to join the squad for the sport\u2019s Olympic debut in 2028.
\nHowever, those critics will have to wait, as Doucette threw six touchdown passes to four different receivers, leading the US to a dominant 53-21 victory over Austria, securing an unprecedented fifth consecutive flag football world championship.
\n\u201cThis is our sport \u2013 we feel like we are the pros,\u201d Doucette declared at the conclusion of Friday\u2019s final, broadcast from Lahti Stadium in Finland.
\nFlag football, a non-contact version of American football played by teams of five, was added to the programme for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics in October last year. American football last appeared at the Olympics as a demonstration sport in the 1932 LA Games.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s amazing, not only because of the number of teams but also the talent and level of the sport, so I\u2019m really proud and happy to be part of this experience,\u201d said Mexico\u2019s quarterback Diana Flores, following their final loss in Lahti. Despite the defeat, Flores expressed pride in her team and saw the championship as a stepping stone for the future.
\nFlores, a prominent figure in the sport who appeared in a commercial aired during the 2023 Super Bowl, is driven by her goal of leading Mexico to the Olympics. \u201cI dream of it every day.
\nIt\u2019s a goal. I want to represent my country at the Olympics with my team, and winning an Olympic medal would be amazing,\u201d she said.
\nAlthough the sport originated in the US, flag football is gaining popularity globally. The simplified, non-contact version of the game is easier for countries to adopt compared to the NFL\u2019s tackle football. Flores particularly praised Japan, which reached the semi-finals before losing to Mexico. \u201cThey\u2019ve grown so much in the past year. They\u2019re fast, smart, and I know they\u2019ll keep improving,\u201d she said.
\nFlag football is played on a 70×25-yard field without blocking, kicking, or tackling. The play ends when a defender pulls a flag attached to the ball carrier\u2019s waist or when the ball goes out of bounds.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
With 54 teams from 30 countries competing, US men secure fifth straight title, women claim third consecutive win Helsinki The US men\u2019s and women\u2019s teams continued their dominance by winning the world flag football championships in Finland on Friday, but other nations are closing the gap as the sport gains momentum ahead of its Olympic […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":428723,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-428688","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n